Could the Philadelphia Phillies make it a red October? To borrow some cliches, it’s an uphill climb. Every game counts. And, it’s been a minute (since the Phils last made the playoffs).
But with two weeks remaining in Major League Baseball’s regular season, the Philadelphia Phillies at least have a chance. Perhaps it’s a slim one. A FanGraphs statistic gave Philadelphia just a 30.6% chance to make the playoffs – and that was before Monday night’s disappointing 2-0 loss to the lowly Baltimore Orioles.
But things aren’t over just yet. Currently, the Phillies are just three games back of the Atlanta Braves in the National League East.
In the wild card race, the Phillies are 4.5 games behind the surging St Louis Cardinals. The Cards have won nine straight games and are peaking at the perfect time.
And to complicate things even further, the Cincinnati Reds (three games back) and the San Diego Padres (four games behind) sit between the Phillies and that elusive wild card spot.
So, perhaps the best place to find some answers at Pennsylvania sportsbooks. Let’s take a look at the Phillies odds.
Harper is the frontrunner for the NL MVP award
Although playoff triumphs seem unlikely for the Phillies franchise, slugger Bryce Harper at least has a decent chance for some postseason glory. Harper, who is currently hitting .311 with 33 home runs and 80 RBI, is the favorite at FanDuel Sportsbook to win the National League’s MVP award.
NL MVP odds
Wheeler CY Young odds
And in the National League’s Cy Young race, Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler is in the conversation as well. Futures pricing for that list includes the following:
Philadelphia Phillies National League Pennant futures
Currently, Philadelphia is sixth in National League futures at FanDuel Sportsbook with a price of +2700.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are the favorites at +150.
The entire list of NL futures is as follows.
PA sportsbooks have Braves favored to win NL East
In the National League East division, the Atlanta Braves are three games ahead of the Phillies with about two weeks remaining in the season. Interestingly enough, the Braves and Phillies will meet in Atlanta in a three game series to close out the regular season (Sept. 28 – 30th).
2021 NL East odds
Current 2021 World Series odds
At this point, a World Series title seems to be a distant dream for the Phillies and their fans.
Phillies and Braves could be headed for a late-season showdown
Philadelphia’s hunt for a red October is down to the final weeks. At this point, simply making the postseason will require some magic that seems stolen from a Hollywood script.
But with plenty of odds at Pennsylvania sports betting apps and a final series against the Atlanta Braves, you won’t want to miss any of the drama.
Stick around until the end.
Lead image: Nick Wass/AP
